Water district leaders elected

The board of directors of the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) has elected Joan C. Finnegan as board president and Jeffery M. Thomas as vice president.

Finnegan is an experienced water leader, having served in many key water-related positions for more than 30 years, and she brings strong leadership as well as a collaborative approach to the position.

Thomas is the past president of MWDOC and former mayor of the city of Tustin, and he brings a wealth of fiscal management expertise to his role as Vice President.

Finnegan said: "During the coming year, water providers throughout California face a number of critical issues that will pave the way for a reliable water future. I look forward to leading MWDOC through this important time while working collaboratively with water leaders at the local, regional, and state level to ensure continued water supply reliability."

Thomas first joined the MWDOC Board in August of 2009 and has served continuously ever since. As director of Division Six, Thomas represents the areas of Rancho Santa Margarita and portions of Tustin, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, San Clemente, and unincorporated areas of Orange County.

Thomas is a former member of the Tustin City Council and three-time mayor. He served for 12 years as director of the Tustin Water Agency. During his tenure, they financed and constructed the 17th Street Desalter and rebuilt four reservoirs that serve more than 50,000 residents of Tustin, Santa Ana and North Tustin.

He has been appointed to a number of positions including Chair of Orange County's Treasury Oversight Committee, and he currently serves as a director of Sunwest Bank.

Thomas works as vice president of the Western Region for HKG Asset Management.

He resides in Tustin with his wife Lisa and their two children.

- This information submitted by Municipal Water District of Orange County